Building permits in unincorporated Henry County — south of Atlanta around McDonough — are issued by the Building and Plan Review Department, with applications filed through the SagesGov portal. The department issues permits, reviews plans, and inspects for compliance with the Georgia State Minimum Codes and the county's Unified Land Development Code.
This Henry County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the SagesGov process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Henry County project starts clean.
This guide covers unincorporated Henry County. Cities — McDonough, Stockbridge, Hampton, and Locust Grove — run their own departments. A Land Disturbance Permit (LDP) must be issued before the building permit where land is disturbed, and a site plan prepared by a licensed engineer or surveyor is required.
What requires a building permit in Henry County?
Under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes (the International Codes as adopted with Georgia amendments by the Department of Community Affairs), a permit is required before you construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and renovations
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, windows, doors, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Accessory structures, pools, and manufactured homes
- Land disturbance and development work
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
- Small projects expressly exempt (confirm with the department)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Where land is disturbed, the Land Disturbance Permit must be issued before the building permit.
Who handles permitting in Henry County?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections run through the Building and Plan Review Department; Planning & Zoning handles development regulation under the Unified Land Development Code. Separate trade permits are required after the building permit is issued.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253 |
| Phone | 770-288-6051 |
| Online portal | SagesGov (account required) |
| Covers | Unincorporated Henry County (cities run their own) |
| Sequencing | Land Disturbance Permit issued before the building permit |
| Enforced code | Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes + Unified Land Development Code |
Apply through SagesGov. Create an account, start the permit application for the unincorporated county, and upload plans, checklists, and affidavits (New Home and Accessory Structures/Pools/Additions packages are published). If the applicant name differs from the state contractor license, submit the county authorized agent form; owner-builders submit the homeowner builder affidavit.
Henry County building permit cost
Henry County building permit fees carry a $25 administrative fee and a $75 minimum permit fee, charged at $3.70 per $1,000 of valuation (per the ICC valuation table the county updates yearly). The building permit fee includes the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permit fees, but those trade permits must still be applied for and issued to licensed contractors.
Impact fees apply to new growth, and a Georgia Energy Code Compliance Affidavit and Impact Fee Affidavit are required. Confirm current amounts before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Administrative fee | $25 on all permits (unless noted) |
| Minimum permit fee | $75 for all permits |
| Valuation rate | $3.70 per $1,000 of valuation |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Included in the building fee but issued separately |
| Impact fees | Apply to new growth (Impact Fee Affidavit) |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific Henry County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Henry County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work needs its own permit issued to a licensed installer or contractor — separate trade permits are required after the building permit is issued.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a Georgia-licensed electrical contractor.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a Georgia-licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a Georgia-licensed conditioned-air contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools, accessory structures, and manufactured homes are permitted separately. Land-disturbing projects require an LDP first, a recorded plat (if the lot isn't in a subdivision), and a site plan by a licensed engineer or surveyor.
Verify your contractor's license. Georgia licenses general and residential contractors through the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, and electrical, plumbing, HVAC/conditioned-air, and low-voltage contractors through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board (both under the Secretary of State). Most projects over $2,500 require a licensed contractor, and only a licensed contractor — or a homeowner on their own residence — may pull a permit. Verify before signing; the property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Henry County
Confirm jurisdiction & land disturbance
Confirm the parcel is unincorporated and obtain a Land Disturbance Permit first where land is disturbed.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, site plan (licensed engineer/surveyor), recorded plat if required, Georgia Energy Code and Impact Fee affidavits, and license/agent forms.
Apply in SagesGov
Create an account and submit the building application and documents for the unincorporated county.
Plan review & corrections
Building & Plan Review (routed via Planning & Zoning) reviews; resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated fees ($25 admin + valuation-based, plus impact fees), then post the permit on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Apply for separate trade permits, then schedule inspections. Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Henry County
Schedule inspections through the Building and Plan Review Department; separate trade permits must be issued before related inspections. Typical checkpoints include footing/foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Henry County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Henry County Building & Plan Review
- 💻 SagesGov permit pathways
- 📋 Henry County, GA (forms & fees)
- 🪪 Georgia Secretary of State — contractor licensing
- 📘 Georgia DCA — State Minimum Codes
- 🗺️ Planning & Zoning (UDC)
Simplify Henry County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Henry County's SagesGov intake, land-disturbance sequencing, and impact-fee/affidavit requirements reward applicants who order the steps correctly and submit complete packages. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Henry County — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Building & Plan Review and SagesGov process, so your Henry County submissions move faster.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Henry County because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know Henry County Building & Plan Review, SagesGov, and the land-disturbance and impact-fee steps.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Henry County Building and Plan Review Department before filing. This is not legal advice.